Arts Calendar – April 22 – May 26, 2016

This concert series is underway with several more performances scheduled through May. A few installments just around the corner include: The Danny Green Trio (jazz) on Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m.; the Cuyamaca College Rock, Pop and Soul Ensemble performing The Beatles’ classic album “Abbey Road” on Friday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m.; and the Cuyamaca College Choir at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 6. Admission to these performances is $8, or $5 for students and seniors. Cuyamaca College’s Performing Arts Theatre, located at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, Rancho San Diego. Visit gcccd.edu.

Coyote Music FestivalSaturday, May 7

This annual festival will return to the Grand Lawn at Cuyamaca College (900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, Rancho San Diego) for its eighth year. The student-run festival provides a free afternoon of live music for anyone who wishes to attend and celebrates the culmination of a semester of work for students studying music, technology, recording and business. Visit gcccd.edu for more information.

Depot Springs Patron Appreciation DaySaturday, April 30

Depot Springs Beer Company and Table 1888 will soon come to La Mesa with an onsite brewery, kids zone, restaurant and outdoor entertainment area for music, comedy, movie nights and more. The 25,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to open this summer at 9176 Fletcher Parkway. This appreciation day will be family friendly with activities for all ages including bounce houses, face painting, photo booths and crafts. The party will be hosted at Harry Griffen Park (9550 Milden St., La Mesa) from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. with live entertainment from Birdy Bardot, The Ordeal, Supersonic Samba School and the Euphoria Brass Band. Food trucks will be on hand as well. There will also be raffles with various prizes from Depot Springs. Visit dsappreciationday.com for more details.

Gator by the Bay Thursday, May 5 – Sunday May 8

This annual zydeco, blues and crawfish festival will once again take over Spanish Landing Park (3900 N. Harbor Drive, Harbor Island) with four days of festivities. Over 90 performances on seven stages will span genres from Cajun to country to jazz and, of course, plenty of zydeco and blues. There will be large dance floors plus free dance lessons offered. A Louisiana food court will feature tasty eats plus there will be cooking demos for those who want to try their own Cajun and creole cooking at home. 10,000 pounds of live crawfish will make its way to San Diego for the occasion as well. Visit gatorbythebay.com for the full music lineup and tickets.

Gallery Views

‘Under Pressure: printmaking today’
Through Thursday April 28

Grossmont College’s Hyde Art Gallery (Building 25, 8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon) presents this exhibit featuring works from 18 artists who range in style from traditional to experimental. One traditional style showcased is the intaglio process, which involves etching onto the surface of a plate. On the experimental side of things is a unique print created by jacking up a truck and using it as an embossing tool. “Under Pressure: printmaking today” is curated by Grossmont professor Jennifer Anne Bennett. The gallery is open from 10 a. m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Visit grossmont.edu/artgallery.

‘7 Printmakers’Through Saturday, April 30

Ladybug Art Center, located at 4685 Biona Ave. in Kensington, is hosting a unique art exhibit through the end of the month, showcasing more than 30 examples of the art of printmaking in various forms. This group of printmakers has been exhibiting together since 1990 featuring techniques from woodcuts to lithographs and more. The art by the seven printmakers will be available for sale. The art center is free and open to public from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit ladybugartstudio.com.

Mission Federal ArtWalkSaturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1

For the 32nd year, ArtWalk will take over 17 blocks of Little Italy with thousands of attendees expected. From 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. each day there will be opportunities to purchase artwork, enjoy live music and dance performances, and participate in interactive art experiences. Visit artwalksandiego.org for details and a festival map.

Stage Cues

‘The BFG (Big Friendly Giant)’Friday, April 22 – Sunday, May 1

SDSU School of Theatre, Television and Film will celebrate the 100th birthday of Roald Dahl with a theatrical adaptation of his book, “The BFG (Big Friendly Giant).” The beloved story follows an orphan named Sophie who teams up with the titular giant to save the children of England. Tickets are $10 for children under 10, $15 for students and $17 for adults. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The performances will be held in the Don Powell Theatre at SDSU, located at 5500 Campanile Drive. Visit theatre.sdsu.edu.

Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department presents Neil Simon’s Tony Award-winning play, “The Odd Couple.” The classic comedy of mismatched roommates will be performed at the college’s Stagehouse Theatre (8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon bordering La Mesa). There will be a performance at 7:30 p.m. on each of the dates listed above as well as a matinee at 2 p.m. May 7 and 14. Visit grossmont.edu.

‘Chapter Two’Friday, May 13 – Sunday, June 12

Lamplighters Community Theatre (5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa) presents Neil Simon’s comedy-drama with performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The story follows recent widower and writer George Schneider as he attempts dating at the prompting of his brother Leo and meets a keeper — Jennie Malone. Meanwhile Leo has a fling with Jennie’s neurotic — and married — friend, Faye. Visit lamplighterslamesa.com for tickets.

‘The Masque of Beauty and the Beast’Friday, May 20 – Sunday, May 22

The drama club of Grace Christian Schools will present this play at First Baptist Church or Lemon Grove (2910 Main St.). This retelling of the classic fairy tale will be performed by homeschooling students from around the county under the direction of Caryl Lipnick. Performances are at 5 p.m. on Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10-$15. Visit conta.cc/1LV9OXk for tickets.

On Film

Movies at the City of La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center

Each Thursday the Adult Enrichment Center (8450 La Mesa Blvd.) hosts a movie screening in its main hall. The movies start at 1 p.m. and cost $1 to attend. May selections will be announced soon. The next showing will be “Spotlight” on Thursday, April 28 – the winner of this year’s Oscar for “Best Film” is about the investigative reporting by the Boston Globe exposing the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, which stars an ensemble cast including Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and more. Rated R. 128 minutes.